Administrative law attorneys in Mexico
Administrative law regulates the relationship between private parties and the State: licenses, permits, concessions, fines, closures, and patrimonial liability. If a federal, state, or municipal agency issued an act that harms you, our lawyers challenge it through the administrative route and before the court.
Consult with a lawyerAdministrative law governs the conduct of the public administration and its relationship with the governed. It is a concurrent matter: there are acts of federal, state, and municipal authorities, each with its own procedural laws. At the federal level, the Federal Administrative Procedure Law (Ley Federal de Procedimiento Administrativo) establishes the requirements for the validity of an administrative act, its notification, execution, and extinction, as well as the appeal for review.
It covers construction and operating licenses, permits, concessions, sanctions, closures, revocations, expropriations, and the State's patrimonial liability, provided in Article 113 of the Constitution and its implementing law, which requires compensation for irregular administrative activity that causes harm to private parties. It also comprises the responsibilities of public servants under the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities and the anti-corruption system.
The main contentious route is the annulment trial (juicio de nulidad) before the Federal Court of Administrative Justice (Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa, TFJA) or each state's administrative justice courts, governed by the Federal Law of Administrative Contentious Procedure. Final rulings in tax, customs, foreign-trade, sanctions, and procedure-denial matters are challenged. There are a traditional route and an online trial.
Before going to court, many laws offer the administrative appeal for review before the authority itself, which may be optional. Against the court's judgment lies direct amparo, thus closing the review of the act's legality and constitutionality.
Governing laws administrative law
- Ley Federal de Procedimiento Administrativo
- Ley Federal de Procedimiento Contencioso Administrativo
- Ley Orgánica del Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa
- Ley Federal de Responsabilidad Patrimonial del Estado
- Ley General de Responsabilidades Administrativas
- Leyes y códigos administrativos estatales y bandos municipales
Process and timelines
Faced with an administrative act, you may file the appeal for review before the authority itself, usually within 15 business days, or go directly to the annulment trial before the TFJA or the state court, which is brought within 30 business days in the traditional route and 45 in other cases. The trial includes claim, answer, evidence, arguments, and judgment; it usually lasts from 8 to 18 months. The judgment may be challenged by direct amparo before the collegiate court.
Documents usually required
- Challenged administrative ruling or act and its notification
- Official ID and proof of address
- Documents establishing the affected right (license, permit, concession)
- Evidence of the harm or of the irregularity of the conduct
- Notarial power of attorney or letter of authorization for the legal representative
- Records of the original administrative file
How much does it cost?
Fees depend on the instance: an administrative appeal is cheaper than an annulment trial with expert evidence. It is common to have a fee for the claim and adjustments for ancillary proceedings or the subsequent amparo. Beware of anyone who promises to reverse any fine without reviewing the notification and the deadlines, as many cases are lost for being out of time, not on the merits.
When do you need this lawyer?
You need an administrative lawyer when an agency denies, revokes, or conditions a license, permit, or concession; imposes a fine, closure, or sanction on you; affects you with an expropriation; or when the State's irregular activity caused you harm that must be compensated. Also if you are a public servant subject to a liability proceeding, or if you need to put your procedures before federal, state, or municipal authorities in order to avoid sanctions.
Red flags when hiring
- Promising to lift any closure or fine without seeing the file
- Confusing the federal, state, or municipal jurisdiction over the act
- Letting the deadline for the appeal or annulment trial pass
- Charging for dealings with the authority without leaving a written record
- Offering contacts or influence within the agency
Lawyers for administrative law
Frequently asked questions
What does an administrative-law lawyer do in Mexico?
A lawyer specialized in administrative law advises and represents individuals and companies in matters governed by this field. In practical terms, it is a field of concurrent jurisdiction: federal and state rules coexist depending on the case. Matters are resolved mainly before administrative bodies and tribunals. The central applicable statute is the Federal Administrative Procedure Law (Ley Federal de Procedimiento Administrativo).
What laws govern administrative law in Mexico?
The main applicable provisions are: Federal Administrative Procedure Act; Federal Administrative Litigation Procedure Act; Organic Act of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice; Federal Act on the State's Patrimonial Liability; General Act of Administrative Responsibilities; State administrative laws and codes and municipal ordinances. A lawyer with experience in the field interprets how these rules combine in your specific case and which judicial criteria are relevant.
Can I file an amparo (constitutional relief) in an administrative law matter?
Yes. In administrative law matters it is common to resort to the amparo proceeding, governed by the Amparo Law, when an act of authority violates fundamental rights or unconstitutional rules are applied. Amparo has strict deadlines (generally 15 business days), so it is advisable to act quickly.
How much does it cost to hire an administrative-law lawyer?
Fees depend on the instance: an administrative appeal is cheaper than an annulment trial with expert evidence. It is common to have a fee for the claim and adjustments for ancillary proceedings or the subsequent amparo. Beware of anyone who promises to reverse any fine without reviewing the notification and the deadlines, as many cases are lost for being out of time, not on the merits. Modalidades habituales: igualada mensual, cobro por hora, cuota litis (porcentaje sobre el resultado) o esquemas mixtos. En Letrados.mx nuestros abogados te explican sus honorarios por adelantado.
How urgent is it to deal with an administrative law matter?
An administrative-law matter allows for some preparation, but it is best not to let deadlines run. Even so, the sooner you get guidance on your administrative-law case, the more options you will have.
What documents do I need for an administrative law matter?
Suele pedirse: Challenged administrative ruling or act and its notification; Official ID and proof of address; Documents establishing the affected right (license, permit, concession); Evidence of the harm or of the irregularity of the conduct; Notarial power of attorney or letter of authorization for the legal representative; Records of the original administrative file. No te preocupes si te falta alguno: el abogado te indicará cómo obtenerlo.
How do I choose a good administrative-law attorney?
Verify their cédula profesional (professional license) in the National Registry of Professionals of the SEP (Ministry of Public Education), confirm that they have specific experience in administrative law —being a general lawyer is not enough— and ask them to explain in writing the strategy and fees before administrative bodies and tribunals. All the administrative-law lawyers on Letrados.mx have a verified cédula profesional.
How long does an administrative law case take to resolve?
Faced with an administrative act, you may file the appeal for review before the authority itself, usually within 15 business days, or go directly to the annulment trial before the TFJA or the state court, which is brought within 30 business days in the traditional route and 45 in other cases. Un abogado de derecho administrativo puede darte una estimación realista tras revisar tu caso.
Is the first consultation with an administrative-law lawyer free?
Yes. At Letrados.mx the first assessment of your administrative law case is normally free of charge. Describe your case and a lawyer who specializes in administrative law will review it and advise you before you decide whether to move forward.
Do you handle administrative law cases throughout Mexico?
Yes. We handle administrative law cases in all 32 federal states. When you indicate your state and city, we assign you an attorney who knows the local courts and rules that apply to an administrative law matter.
What warning signs should I avoid when hiring in administrative law?
Ten cuidado con: Promising to lift any closure or fine without seeing the file; Confusing the federal, state, or municipal jurisdiction over the act; Letting the deadline for the appeal or annulment trial pass; Charging for dealings with the authority without leaving a written record; Offering contacts or influence within the agency. Un abogado serio te da certidumbre por escrito y nunca garantiza resultados imposibles.
What happens after I describe my administrative law case at Letrados.mx?
We receive your request, assign the administrative law lawyer on our team best suited to your area and pass along your case so they can contact you. The first consultation is free of charge.
Need a lawyer?
Describe your case and one of our lawyers will contact you. Free and with no obligation.
Request a free consultationThe information on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For your specific case, schedule a consultation with our lawyers.